Percussive boiler-tube cleaner.



W. B URLINGHAM. RERCUSSWE BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED we. 19, 1914.

1 1343239 ed p 6, 191a UNITED STATES PATENT oriuen.

WILLIAM BURLINGHAM, OF NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH BRIGGS WEAVER, F NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

PERGUSSIVE BOILER-TUBE CLELAENEIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed August 19. 1914. Serial No. 857,434.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, "VILLIAM BURLING- ing'at Newport News, county of Warwick,

which the following is a specification. The boiler tubecleancrs for tubes and flfiues which are at present in general use have, for the most part, consisted of reciprocating or rotary blades adapted to be inserted into the tube or fiue for the purpose of cutting out .the deposits, which cony 'struction has only been applicable to cylinders or tubes of comparatively large diameter. It has alsobeen heretofore proposed to employ cylindrical brushes or brushes of analogous character insertible in a tube and rotated therein from the outside of the boiler, which form can be employed in tubes of small diameter but which could not conveniently be employed with curved tubes. It has also been heretofore proposed to em- Ijploy a pneumatic impact tool having cutf'ting members loosely held by an attachment from the forward end of winder,-

the tool cylbut in this device no means such as I employ are provided for causing the scale removing devices to normally remain in close juxtaposition with each other so as to permit the implement to be readily inserted into the tube or fine to be cleaned.

My present invention relates tor/a novel construction of a percussive boiler tube or flue cleaner, which is capable of a Wide =variety of uses, and wherein the disadvantages of prior devices are overcome, and

consists of a novel construction of a tube or fiue cleaner, wherein the pneumatic impact tool cylinder is incased for its entire length in a cylinder or jacket, one end of which is securely locked into engagement with the end of the pneumatictobl cylinder, While the outer end thereof is provided wit the scale removing devices, said outer can be readily advanced within the tube, or

fine to-be cleaned, according to requirements.

To theabove ends my invention consists mm, a citizen of the United States, resid- State of Vir inia have invented a new and' I a 7 v r 1 useful Percussive Boiler-lube Cleaner, of

' invention is resents an endview of of a novel construction of percussive tube or flue scaling implement adapted to be worked with either compressed air, steam or other motive fluid, whereby the scale can be readily removed from the interior of the tubes or fines of Water tube boilers, condensers, steam economizers and the like, my invention being also adapted to remove the scale from the outside of tubes of fire tube boilers by rapid internal blows within the tube, the scale not only being chipped from the interior of the tube, but also being re moved from the exterior surface thereof by the vibration of my novel tool against the interior of the tube.

For the purpose of illustrating my in vention,

present preferred by me since it will be found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists ean be variously arranged and organized and that my not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a novel construction ofa flue cleaner embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sideview of the hammer block element of the same, in detached osition. Fig. 3 rep- Similar numerals of eference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings :1 designates a cylindrical barrel or Working cylinder, having an axial piston chamber consisting of a large diameter axial bore 2, and a small diameter axial bore 3, saidbores forming a dilierential piston chamber, the rear end of said large bore havin a screw-threaded portion 4:. An external y threaded block 5 is fitted in said threaded rear end of the piston chamber and has a rearwardly extending axial neck 6, having its outerend 7 screwthreaded. The neck has an axial bore 8,,at the closed inner end of which are radial channels 9, which extend through the block and are connected by an annular channel 10,

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

I have shown in the accom'panying drawing one form thereofwhich is at in the threaded periphery of the block. A

coupling 11 is secured to'the end of the neck Sand conveys motive fluid,"such as air under pressure, steam or othen-niotive fiuidffipfi source. not shown.

suitable reservoir or generator or other A differential plunger is reciproc'able within the plunger chamber and has an enlarged piston 12, fitting in.-the large bore 2 and a smooth, smaller, cylindrical plunger portion 13, fittingito slide in the small diameter bore 3. The end of said plunger portion is formed with a conical or similar tapering head or striker 14. The plunger has an axial chamber 15, open through the larger or upper face of the same and extending about one half of. the length of the plunger, and the walls of said chamber preferably flare or diverge rearwardly, said chamber having radial channels 16, extending outwardly through its walls. A longitudinal channel 17 is formed in the wall of the tool cylinder or barrel, and has its lower or right-hand end communicating by a' port 18 with the lower end of the large,

piston chamber and its u per or left-hand end communicatin with t is circumferential groove 10 of the threaded block and the radial channels therein through a port 19.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown in detached position, views of the hammer block memer 20, which comprises a cylindrical shell or jacket inclosing the pneumatic tool cylinder 1 for its entire length, said shell having a head 21 at its upper or left-hand end,

which has a central opening 22 therethrough, through Which passes the inlet neck 6, said head being provided with a central hub 23 upon which fits a cap 24, also bearing against the head and held in place by a nut 25 which is in threaded engagement with'the threaded portion 7 of said inlet neck.

It is essential. in the construction of the hammer block member 20, that the exterior scale removing devices-be normally held substantially 1n uxtaposition as seen in Fig. 1,

so that the implement canbe readily advanced within the tool to be'cleaned, and it is also essential that the scale removing de vices be resiliently supported so that said;

' scale removing devices on the forward end mal position seen in of the hammer block member or members will, so far as practicable, assume their nor- Fig. 1 during the slight intervals when the end of the hammering piston 13 is out of contact therewith.

. To the above ends, -I provide the inclosing shell or jacket 20 with a plurality of longitudinal extending cuts 34, which extend for a greater part of the lengthof the outer shell to form spring arms 26, which normally bear against the surface of the pneumatic tool cylinder or barr'el, said spring arms terminating insegmerital blfooks 27, which extend beyond the lower or right-hand end 33 of the cylinder 1 v pering internal chamber 28 'is-::formed, the

tapering head 14 of the hammering piston or scale or other deposits in t and are. constructed so thata taplunger, said hammer block I an axial bore '36 at its end.

member having shaped ribs or projections 31 of any desired or required cross-sectional shape, and it will be apparent that projections of any other suitable shape for chippin e tubes may be or cutting the employed. The head 21 at or near the junc-- tion of the spring arms 26 therewith may be cut .away or provided with a circumferential groove 32 or otherwise equipped so as to increase or vary the resiliency or elasticlty of said spring arms 26, as will be evident.

In practice, in the operation of the tool, the latter is inserted into the tube to be cleaned and compressed air or other moti. a

fluid is admitted through the inlet coupling...

11. The fluid passes through the inlet passage 8, radiating channels 9 in the head,

circumferential channel 10, port 19, and longitudinal channel 17 in the barrel, which communicates with the lower end of the piston cylinder. When-the plunger is in itsupper or.left-handposition, as seen in Fig. l, the ports in the plunger are uncov-- ered in the piston chambers and the fluid passes through the above-named ports and the ports 18 and 16 to the axial chamber 15 of the plunger to the upper end of the piston chamber and, acting against the large upper or left-hand area of the plunger and exerting differential pressure upon such area, forces the plunger downwardly or to the right of the position seen in Fig. 1.

.When the plunger arrives at the lower or right-hand end of its stroke, the ports are uncovered and the fluid flows out in the chamber in the lower end of the shell from the chamber in the plunger and from the barrel above the same, releasing th'e'downpressure upon the plunger and allowing the normal pressure of the motive fluid to act upon the small-area surface of the piston to again drive the-plunger upward. The hammering plunger :is thus reciprocated in the manner of the plunger of the valveles s teau type, and I deem it unnecessary to describe its cycle of operation in greater detail, as I may employ any suitable type of hammer of the old and well-known Chovalveless or'other pneumatic hammeringtool in order to obtain the desired reciprocations" ofthe hammering p1ston.' The reciprocations of the plunger will cause its tapering end or striker. 1.4 to in-5 termittently impact against and spread the blocks 27 of thespring arms26 ,te deliver' sharp laterally diverging-blows upoirthe interior of the tubeand thuschip .or crack the scale or other accumulated deposits within the tube to be cleaned. The .exhaustlfro m the lower end of the plunger will blow out through the cuts 34 of the hammer block 20 and blow the scale and detritus out of the tube to which the implement is applied. My novel construction of implement, with slight modifications, may also be employed for expanding tubes of comparatively soft and malleable metal within tubes of cylindrical bores, the hammer blocks being shaped to strike the inner wall of the malleable tube so as to expand the latter and thus secure it in the surrounding tubular wall. By this use of the tool, an inner tin or lead pipe can be expanded within an outer iron or steel pipe to line the latter, and will be firmly secured in the surrounding ontiguous tubular wall.

The spring arms may have their resiliency or elasticity varied according to requirements by reducing them in various manners besides by forming the. annular groove 32 llustrated, and the degree of elasticity or resiliency of the arms 26 can be varied, according to requirements.

While for the sake of simplicity, the pertbussion structure I have hereinbefore described is preferably of the valveless type, it is evident that a valved percussipn tool or any other percussion tool imparting radiating outward blows can be employed, without departing from the spirit of my invention.)

It will; be seen from the foregoing that the impact of the blows of the rapidly reciprocating piston upon the plurality of internal, inclined scaleremoving devices will cause the same to rapidly vibrate radially, and that the provision of the spring arms 26 will cause the scale removingdevices to normallyassume the position seen in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the implement can be readily advanced within the straight or curved tubes or flues which it may be desired to clean. The exhaust will pass through the ports 16 at the'proper intervals and will escape through the slots or cuts 34, as is evident, and. the exhaust air from the implement will blow the soot'from the inside of the smaller tubes to be cleaned into the stack, without requiring any attention on the part of the operator.

iMy invention is particularly adapted to the cleaning of small tubes like the one and one-eighth inch tubes on torpedo boats, which are at present" 'usually cleaned by a wire brush which is 'reciprocated within the tube but brushes off the soft scale only, the hard. lime deposit not being removed by these wire brushes. By my invention small tubes of the character referred to can be readily cleaned and sufiicient power is created to remove the lime scale therein deposited. Y

I desir'e to call special attention to the employment of the resilient arms 26 which preferably extend the entire length of the tool cylinder 1 and inclose the same substan tially as described, so that the entire device cleaner-Which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will be found in practice to givesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In a percussive boiler tube cleaner, a pneumatic tool cylinder,'a hammering pistoil therein, ahl outer cylinder inclosing said tool cylinder and having a plurality of resilient arms extending longitudinally of said tool cylinder, said arms substantially surrounding s aid tool cylinder, and scale removing devices formedon the opposite ter-' inner pneumatic tool cylinder, a hammering piston therein, an outer cylinder in engagement with said inner tool cylinder and having spring arms integral therewith and engaging said tool cylinder for its entire length, and hammer blocks at the free outer terminals of said spring arms adapted to be engaged and moved outwardly by the impact of said piston therewith.

3. In a tool of the character stated, an inner cylinder having a motive fluid inlet, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and hazing a tapering striker thereon, an outer cylinder engaging said inner cylinder, said outercylinder having spring arms secured thereto and engaging the outer periphery of said inner cylinder for its entire length, and hammer blocks at the free outer terminals of said spring arms adapted to be engaged and moved outwardly by the tapering portion of" said piston.

4. In a tool of the character state%,'; an inner cylinder having a motive fluid in et"a plunger reciprocable in' said cylinder" and adapted to have, radial mpve'ment and formed Withioblique internal sides adapted cylinder,

.inner Walls of said hammer to be engaged and radially moved by the tapering portion of said plunger.

5 In a percussive boiler tube cleaner, a

pneumatic tool cylinder, a hammering piston therein, a closure for one end of said cylinder having a neck leading therefrom and provided with an inlet leading to said engaging said head, means for securing said head and cap With respect to'said cylinder, spring arms projecting from said head,vlon gitudinally of said cylinder. and hammer blocks on the ends of said spring arms, the blocks being impacted upon by said piston. V

In a percussive boiler tube cleaner, a pneumatic tool cylinder, a hammering piston therein,

a head engaging said neck, a cap a closure for one end of. said cylinder having a neck leading therefrc n 2( and provided with an inlet leading-"t n1 cylinder, a head engaging said neel abutting against an end of said cylinder, a; cap engaging'said head, means for securing said head and cap with respect to said cylinder, spring arms projectingfrom said head longitudinally of said cylinder, an an- 

